So the Church of England opted for safety when it met to discuss the next stage in the ordination of women bishops, avoiding the cataclysmic result of a ”˜no’ vote.
More than 280 members of the General Synod, or governing body, voted in favour of sending draft legislation and a code of practice to a revision committee, ensuring its continued progress.
The church will still take its time over the legislation, with no woman bishop likely to be installed before 2014.
But as Jonathan Gledhill, Bishop of Lichfield, said: “I believe we must go forward today however slowly the progress may be.”
Failure to have voted in favour would not have killed off the prospect of women bishops – as the Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams said on Tuesday, the issue will not go away – but it could have delayed ordination for many years.
I’m not sure I understand. The “yes” vote was the cataclysmic result.
It has embraced the cataclysm, but postdated it for four years or thereabouts.
This is probably a Good Thing for my friends in FIF/UK, for by then they will be ready to sing “Heigh ho, heigh ho, it’s off to [four-letter word deleted] we go …” and take a select harvest with them.
Heh Prof Tighe – isn’t that a song sung by Dwarves? Is there something you want to tell us about your friends?
This has the advantage of giving the church time to find a quality candidate. Why not find somebody who, say, has solid credentials – e.g., has been rector of a parish?
Susan Russel to fly by soon.